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A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be
From breasts and orgasms to periods, pregnancies, and menopause― A Brief History of the Female Body is a fascinating science book explaining the mysteries of the female body through an evolutionary lens. Let's face The female body is an enigma. For teenagers first experiencing their periods, the monthly arrival of mood swings and cramps can be agonizing and inconvenient. With pregnancy―perhaps the most miraculous of bodily events―comes countless potential complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, premature birth, and postpartum depression. And menopause is equally mystifying. Why do females lose their fertility over time and experience the notorious side effects―like hot flashes, weight gain, and hair loss―while males maintain their fertility forever? Evolutionary geneticist and educator Dr. Deena Emera has spent much of her career studying the evolution of female reproduction. A Brief History of the Female Body draws on her vast expertise as a biologist, her experience as a mother of four children, and her love of teaching to look far into our evolutionary past, illuminating how and, more importantly, why the female form has transformed over millions of years and its effects on women's health.
400 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
185 people are currently reading
3651 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 11, 2024
i can never complain about scientific books written by and about women because it's always fascinating, but i can't help but thinking that this book will be so good if it were written 50-100 years from now because soooo many answers in this book (specifically about menopause and why human women evolved to be the way we are) boil down to "well we're not sure yet!"
most of this book is told in examples from the animal kingdom, and although it made interesting comparisons i wish it would've focused more on humans and our ancestors. this book could also be a bit repetitive.
not my fave but definitely not wasted time.
most of this book is told in examples from the animal kingdom, and although it made interesting comparisons i wish it would've focused more on humans and our ancestors. this book could also be a bit repetitive.
not my fave but definitely not wasted time.
February 2, 2024
The body! She’s amazing. Learned a lot and I’m embarrassed by how little I came into this knowing
You’ll like this if you like fun facts, awing at nature, and game theory (not sure if I could have stomached this much Darwinianism if this weren’t written by a woman and I weren’t so far along my paleoanthropology journey)
Freaks like me will love conflict theory. A mother only shares half her genes with a child so they only share evolutionary interests up until a certain point - a baby is willing to survive at the expense of its mother, while the mom wants to maximize likelihood of any child, including by making sure she lives and having and nurturing other kids (the first portfolio managers am I right). The human placenta will literally invade the uterus and give the mother diabetes to maximize the nutrients it receives. A mom has to decide when to wean a crying baby in order to produce additional offspring who might be healthier
Also really liked the sections about periods, orgasms, and sexual selection, which all had good examples of how putting things in context of other animals reveals how extraordinary things we take for granted about being human are (only 2% of mammals menstruate! In some species like DOLPHINS and DUCKS reproduction by sexual aggression is the norm 😢😢, so the ladies have evolved their vaginas to resist and select sperm)
Not for people who want the unequivocal scientific consensus or struggle with the tension between individuals and populations. Perhaps a function of the patriarchy and public health resourcing, there’s a lot more we don’t know than we do!
You’ll like this if you like fun facts, awing at nature, and game theory (not sure if I could have stomached this much Darwinianism if this weren’t written by a woman and I weren’t so far along my paleoanthropology journey)
Freaks like me will love conflict theory. A mother only shares half her genes with a child so they only share evolutionary interests up until a certain point - a baby is willing to survive at the expense of its mother, while the mom wants to maximize likelihood of any child, including by making sure she lives and having and nurturing other kids (the first portfolio managers am I right). The human placenta will literally invade the uterus and give the mother diabetes to maximize the nutrients it receives. A mom has to decide when to wean a crying baby in order to produce additional offspring who might be healthier
Also really liked the sections about periods, orgasms, and sexual selection, which all had good examples of how putting things in context of other animals reveals how extraordinary things we take for granted about being human are (only 2% of mammals menstruate! In some species like DOLPHINS and DUCKS reproduction by sexual aggression is the norm 😢😢, so the ladies have evolved their vaginas to resist and select sperm)
Not for people who want the unequivocal scientific consensus or struggle with the tension between individuals and populations. Perhaps a function of the patriarchy and public health resourcing, there’s a lot more we don’t know than we do!
January 3, 2024
I know it’s unfair to compare this book to Cat Bohannon’s Eve, but I can’t help it. They were published in the same year. They are both about the evolutionary history of human female traits. I read them simultaneously. And this book just isn’t as good as Eve. If you’re interested in this topic, read that book instead.
This book is written by a scientist, and it shows. So much of the book is a summary of current research on humans and other animals, and phrases like “would seem to suggest” and “this trait likely evolved…” The amount of discussion of genes, genetic variation, and traits was perfectly appropriate for a book by a geneticist, but it felt a little too much like I was reading a textbook or a meta analysis, rather than a popsci book for the general public.
Also, the premise is slightly different. This book is more concerned with “human women do/experience X. Why?” From breasts to menopause, the focus is simply to explain the function and make hypotheses about origins. At some points, it even dipped into evolutionary psychology, which is infuriating. It’s understandably cis- and heteronormative in a way that also feels frustrating.
By contrast, Eve is more about how a trait that we associate with women led to humans’ existence at all. It’s written by a trained writer, tells compelling narratives about extinct ancestors, and included some science that contradicts or expands on the science in this book. Again, this comparison might not be fair, but it’s also inevitable.
This book is written by a scientist, and it shows. So much of the book is a summary of current research on humans and other animals, and phrases like “would seem to suggest” and “this trait likely evolved…” The amount of discussion of genes, genetic variation, and traits was perfectly appropriate for a book by a geneticist, but it felt a little too much like I was reading a textbook or a meta analysis, rather than a popsci book for the general public.
Also, the premise is slightly different. This book is more concerned with “human women do/experience X. Why?” From breasts to menopause, the focus is simply to explain the function and make hypotheses about origins. At some points, it even dipped into evolutionary psychology, which is infuriating. It’s understandably cis- and heteronormative in a way that also feels frustrating.
By contrast, Eve is more about how a trait that we associate with women led to humans’ existence at all. It’s written by a trained writer, tells compelling narratives about extinct ancestors, and included some science that contradicts or expands on the science in this book. Again, this comparison might not be fair, but it’s also inevitable.
October 27, 2023
this book was soooo interesting and I keep bringing up excerpts to everyone I talked to. If you liked Sapiens, you’ll love this. Such an important and under appreciated area of research. Every chapter there were WOW moments that left me in awe.
Note on the writing: this book was very clear and easy to read despite the heavy amount of science. I think she did a great job avoiding jargon and making everything understandable. I did find some parts overly repetitive, but I guess she was more worried about it being clear to a lay audience. I found the many parentheses noting that a topic would be discussed in the future unnecessary and annoying. Overall I loved this book and would recommended everyone read it to learn more about female biology.
Note on the writing: this book was very clear and easy to read despite the heavy amount of science. I think she did a great job avoiding jargon and making everything understandable. I did find some parts overly repetitive, but I guess she was more worried about it being clear to a lay audience. I found the many parentheses noting that a topic would be discussed in the future unnecessary and annoying. Overall I loved this book and would recommended everyone read it to learn more about female biology.
February 16, 2025
if dr emera was teaching science i wouldn’t have hated it so much in school
January 11, 2025
Very interesting information. However, the title of this book is misleading. The author focuses mostly on pregnancy all throughout the book and concentrates on giving examples from the rest of the animal kingdom rather than from humans.
August 15, 2023
Why is studying the evolution of the female body important and what difference does it make to women’s health? This book sheds light on this question and provides persuasive answers that carefully examine our evolutionary past, which could lead to more effective treatments to many of the events, milestones, and illnesses that women suffer from. Dr. Emera provides compelling evidence of what shapes the biology of women, from menstruation, to love making, birthing, to menopause, as well as to the evolutionary etiology of the illness challenges that they encounter, such as endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, or even cancer.
This book is a must read for anyone who may be interested in women’s health and in the transitions that women encounter throughout their lives. The accessible writing and analysis the author provide are based on history, science, and grounded in her own lived experiences as a mother of 4 children.
This book is a must read for anyone who may be interested in women’s health and in the transitions that women encounter throughout their lives. The accessible writing and analysis the author provide are based on history, science, and grounded in her own lived experiences as a mother of 4 children.
March 21, 2024
(3.5/5) this book could be very dense to read at times but it did make me think about aspects of a woman’s body I’ve never thought about before. As women, we don’t often think about why we feel or look the way we do from an evolutionary standpoint. This book closely examines what we do and don’t know about many of these parts of myself I question often. Like why do I have a period?!? Why do men get to make all the little sperm they want but I have limited eggs!?! Beyond the “eve ate the apple” rhetoric, this book delves into how these traits benefited our evolutionary ancestors. Maybe (just maybe!!) I can learn to appreciate these aspects of myself a little more now that I know how they benefited the women before me.
October 21, 2023
Oh my gosh almost forgot about this book but it was an INCREDIBLE read. I thought it'd be limited to just the human female anatomy, however, so much of the book delved into how other species' bodies developed. The themes stretched far and wide from puberty to pregnancy to menopause and I felt a deep sense of connection to the author and the work as it discussed the intricacies of our lives. Definitely a read I think everyone should get to!
November 26, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Emera was able to distill decades of complex research into a enjoyable read. I very much appreciated that open research questions and matters where scientists differ were portrayed as such (rather than with a bias towards the author's POV). The chapter on love was particularly interesting to me as I learned more about the intricacies of mate choice, a topic I had previously thought science had, for the most part, "nailed down".
Also, thought the light interweaving of personal and family anecdotes was a nice addition to the scientific material.
Also, thought the light interweaving of personal and family anecdotes was a nice addition to the scientific material.
April 4, 2024
The author skillfully uncovers the secrets of the female body by drawing parallels with our animal counterparts. It's captivating to see how evolutionary clues from the animal world can help us decipher the enigmas of human biology, such as menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause. The concept of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy adds depth to the narrative, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between mothers and offspring. Highly recommended !
April 20, 2024
I was really impressed with the approach the author takes in assessing the development of females. Building on selfish-gene theory, the books looks at differences across species and identifies the factors at play in the development of different reproductive and biological strategies. Many of the evolutionary conflicts explored in the book are discussed in terms that can easily be translated into game theory, with a clear nash equilibrium that results in the current state of human biology. Examples include female/male dynamics, mother/fetus dynamics, early menopause, and longer lifespans.
December 24, 2024
इस वर्ष मेरे द्वारा पढ़ी गयी सर्वश्रेष्ठ पुस्तक ★★★★★
इस पुस्तक को मैंने बड़े चाव से पढ़ा - कई हिस्सों को बार बार वापस आकर पढ़ा। मेरे विचार से हर महिला को यह पुस्तक अपने जीवन में आवश्यक रूप से पढ़नी चाहिए। इसमें महिलाओं के शरीर से सम्बंधित विषयों और समस्याओं पर गंभीर और विस्तृत चर्चा की गयी है।
लेखिका ने स्त्री/मादा शरीर के क्रमिक विकास को समझाने का प्रयत्न किया है। एक सच्चे वैज्ञानिक की तरह लेखिका ने यह माना है कि उनके पास हर प्रश्न का उत्तर नहीं है। कई शारीरिक प्रक्रियाओं के पीछे के कारण को अभी नहीं समझा जा सकता है। और इस विषय में वैज्ञानिकों के विभिन्न मत हैं।
मुझे स्तनों के विकास, माहवारी, कामोत्तेजना की चरमावस्था के पीछे का सिद्धांत, गर्भावस्था के दौरान माँ और बच्चे के बीच द्वन्द का विवरण बहुत अच्छा लगा। मैं आशा करता हूँ कि लेखिका कुछ वर्षों बाद पुनः इस पुस्तक का एक नया संस्करण प्रकाशित करवाएँगी जिससे चल रहे और होने वाले शोध के परिणामों के बारे में सर्व लोक को जानकारी मिल सके।
इस पुस्तक को मैंने बड़े चाव से पढ़ा - कई हिस्सों को बार बार वापस आकर पढ़ा। मेरे विचार से हर महिला को यह पुस्तक अपने जीवन में आवश्यक रूप से पढ़नी चाहिए। इसमें महिलाओं के शरीर से सम्बंधित विषयों और समस्याओं पर गंभीर और विस्तृत चर्चा की गयी है।
लेखिका ने स्त्री/मादा शरीर के क्रमिक विकास को समझाने का प्रयत्न किया है। एक सच्चे वैज्ञानिक की तरह लेखिका ने यह माना है कि उनके पास हर प्रश्न का उत्तर नहीं है। कई शारीरिक प्रक्रियाओं के पीछे के कारण को अभी नहीं समझा जा सकता है। और इस विषय में वैज्ञानिकों के विभिन्न मत हैं।
मुझे स्तनों के विकास, माहवारी, कामोत्तेजना की चरमावस्था के पीछे का सिद्धांत, गर्भावस्था के दौरान माँ और बच्चे के बीच द्वन्द का विवरण बहुत अच्छा लगा। मैं आशा करता हूँ कि लेखिका कुछ वर्षों बाद पुनः इस पुस्तक का एक नया संस्करण प्रकाशित करवाएँगी जिससे चल रहे और होने वाले शोध के परिणामों के बारे में सर्व लोक को जानकारी मिल सके।
December 23, 2023
This was definitely an interesting and insightful read though I did find parts of it kinda boring.
May 22, 2024
Herseyi anlayabilirim memeler, menapoz, mensturasyon vs ama o invasive plancenta olayi cidden dehset verici. Kitap cok iyi bu arada, conflict theory gercekten cok mantikli geldi, sadece biyolojiyi degil sosyal iliskileri anlamada da yardimci oldugunu dusunuyorum. Kiz, erkek herkesin okumasi lazim. Ozellikle ergenlik donemindeki kiz ve erkek cocuklarinin.
August 3, 2025
A book like this makes you realize how little you know about your body and how it came to be. Understanding the evolutionary changes that have occurred to be what you are today in this body is an experience like no other.
I enjoyed how there were comparisons made to other species. This allows you to feel connected to other species in a way, seeing that they have placentas, they have menstruation too.
I enjoyed how approachable the topic was and how she would introduce a topic with anecdote. I found this interesting for an amateur like me who knows little to nothing about evolutionary biology.
The reason I gave it four stars was because toward the middle of the book I found myself struggling to continue to read, it felt textbook-like at times and although it might have been important context, it could have maybe been done differently? I also feel as if the conclusion was just rushed and not good.
I enjoyed how there were comparisons made to other species. This allows you to feel connected to other species in a way, seeing that they have placentas, they have menstruation too.
I enjoyed how approachable the topic was and how she would introduce a topic with anecdote. I found this interesting for an amateur like me who knows little to nothing about evolutionary biology.
The reason I gave it four stars was because toward the middle of the book I found myself struggling to continue to read, it felt textbook-like at times and although it might have been important context, it could have maybe been done differently? I also feel as if the conclusion was just rushed and not good.
July 30, 2024
WOKE UP AT 3 AM and finally finished this bad boy!! Read the majority of her by my neighborhood pool that is technically not really part of my neighborhood (you would think that they would distribute the code to get into the pool to the whole of falconhead west but these criminals have made me a criminal by jumping the fence on the regular!!) and anyway I am feeling so educated about all things girl!! girl 👧🏻 If you are a woman highly recommend 🌄🏞️ i am literally over here soaking up the sun and reconnecting with those ancient ancestral roots #living the dream
XX
The fact that my dad recommended her makes it that much funnier we love a man who supports his daughters in all things 🙏
XX
The fact that my dad recommended her makes it that much funnier we love a man who supports his daughters in all things 🙏
March 12, 2023
A interesting and thoughtful look at the female body. Written with nothing grace and style. Interesting facts that you want to eagerly share with friends.
March 7, 2024
I highly recommend this book!
A short list of facts mentioned in the book: A and Alpha cells - are sex-specific cells in yeast. They can only reproduce between themselves, but not with the same type of cells. These cells are probably evolutionary stepping stones to sperm and egg. They are chemically attracted to opposite types.
Hermaphrodites - are probably the first stage in the evolution of separate sexes. It's probable that there are heavy costs in producing both sex cells and being able to reproduce with themselves.
- There are no intermediate types of sex cells. The evolutionary pressures shape them into small and many vs. big and few.
Sex determination - In fish, there are diverse ways of sexual determination: sequential hermaphroditism, xx/xy, zy/zz, or genetic determination without sex-specific chromosomes (blue tilapia). But in mammals, no organism developed pathogenesis, environmental cues for sex determination, and sex chromosomes evolved only once as xx/xy. In mammal males y chromosome has all male-specific genes but this also leads to the shrinking of the y chromosome. Some species even lost the y chromosome - Japanese spiny rat, but have other ways of sex determination. But we don't know how they do it.
Witches milk - 5% of kids are able to produce milk.
Boobs - Humans are the only mammals in which females store fat in breasts, hips, and thighs. And permanent big boobs are by some evolutionary biologists considered fitness indicators of good genes. Large breasts correlate with high hormone levels while pregnant. There was a Polish study that showed this, but it failed in replications. Mammary glands evolved from sweat glands. For instance, platypus produce milk without nipples - showing this link.
Menstruation - There were serval theories on the point of menstruation. There are placental animals that do not menstruate, but it popped in serval species in different families. Which suggests that it is an adaptive trait. However, the placenta in primates is aggressive and invasive - so menstruation may be a way how to overthrow and gain control. As a way to wean out bad embryos - 40% of fertilized eggs do not develop and are destroyed.
By-product theory of orgasm - Evidence for adaptive theories (ie suction of semen while having an orgasm) of female orgasm in humans is not so strong. But in some mammal species (rabbits) orgasm helps with ovulation. And this may be the case even in humans. But the author speculates that if we analyze how orgasm works in all vertebrates human female orgasm may be a lost trait, adaptation as well as by-product.
Pregnancy - The placental hormone ACG leads to morning sickness as well for the placenta borrowing deeply in the uterus. Dad's genes try to expand the placenta an a child, while mom's genes try to suppress them. This is called the author's conflict theory of pregnancy.
A short list of facts mentioned in the book: A and Alpha cells - are sex-specific cells in yeast. They can only reproduce between themselves, but not with the same type of cells. These cells are probably evolutionary stepping stones to sperm and egg. They are chemically attracted to opposite types.
Hermaphrodites - are probably the first stage in the evolution of separate sexes. It's probable that there are heavy costs in producing both sex cells and being able to reproduce with themselves.
- There are no intermediate types of sex cells. The evolutionary pressures shape them into small and many vs. big and few.
Sex determination - In fish, there are diverse ways of sexual determination: sequential hermaphroditism, xx/xy, zy/zz, or genetic determination without sex-specific chromosomes (blue tilapia). But in mammals, no organism developed pathogenesis, environmental cues for sex determination, and sex chromosomes evolved only once as xx/xy. In mammal males y chromosome has all male-specific genes but this also leads to the shrinking of the y chromosome. Some species even lost the y chromosome - Japanese spiny rat, but have other ways of sex determination. But we don't know how they do it.
Witches milk - 5% of kids are able to produce milk.
Boobs - Humans are the only mammals in which females store fat in breasts, hips, and thighs. And permanent big boobs are by some evolutionary biologists considered fitness indicators of good genes. Large breasts correlate with high hormone levels while pregnant. There was a Polish study that showed this, but it failed in replications. Mammary glands evolved from sweat glands. For instance, platypus produce milk without nipples - showing this link.
Menstruation - There were serval theories on the point of menstruation. There are placental animals that do not menstruate, but it popped in serval species in different families. Which suggests that it is an adaptive trait. However, the placenta in primates is aggressive and invasive - so menstruation may be a way how to overthrow and gain control. As a way to wean out bad embryos - 40% of fertilized eggs do not develop and are destroyed.
By-product theory of orgasm - Evidence for adaptive theories (ie suction of semen while having an orgasm) of female orgasm in humans is not so strong. But in some mammal species (rabbits) orgasm helps with ovulation. And this may be the case even in humans. But the author speculates that if we analyze how orgasm works in all vertebrates human female orgasm may be a lost trait, adaptation as well as by-product.
Pregnancy - The placental hormone ACG leads to morning sickness as well for the placenta borrowing deeply in the uterus. Dad's genes try to expand the placenta an a child, while mom's genes try to suppress them. This is called the author's conflict theory of pregnancy.
February 28, 2025
I purchased A Brief History… as a precursor to Eve by Cat Bohannon so I could brush up on human anatomy and reproduction since I last took human physiology in high school. Turns out, I was in good hands with Emera since she was a high school biology teacher before getting her Phd in evolutionary biology! And her book is written for the masses at a high school biology level. In fact, I could almost hear the jocks in the back of the room snickering at the utterance of certain terms and theories, and our teacher, Emera, nonplused thinking to herself these children need to know this stuff!
It also turns out that I remember human anatomy and reproduction well, nothing really new here for me at least. But, then in high school and even today before having read her book, I really had no context to understand what I had learned. This is where Emera’s evolutionary context comes into play. How does the female body of our species compare to other species? How has our biology and method of reproduction evolved from them or co-evolved to independent yet similar or divergent solutions? Emera compares our biology to many animals including the platypus, kangaroo, elephant mouse (cousin to the elephant), even horses.
I tend to really like nonfiction. And one of my favorite genres is the history of science. Emera’s book isn’t a history of science per se, but it is very much a history book–the evolution of mammalian reproduction. She describes–this for me was quite stunning–the relationship between mother and fetus, as a battle, an evolutionary battle! I’ve always thought of reproduction in cultural terms such as loving, nurturing, co-existing, etc.–never a fight for survival! But that’s how she describes it (and others too). Emera traces this battle back in time to when sometimes the mother had the upper hand, and others when the fetus had the upper hand like today with human reproduction.
One of the strengths of the book is that Emera introduces differing evolutionary theories no matter how pedestrian or conflicting they seem at the onset. She follows with what evolutionary scientists currently think or had thought of these theories, and sometimes what she thinks of them. This shows that there are still a lot of unknowns, speculations, and of course continued research.
Emera’s book was a real eye-opener. I walked away feeling that I now understand what I had learned so many years ago in high school biology. I feel this book would be perfect for anyone who loves nonfiction, science, and history.
It also turns out that I remember human anatomy and reproduction well, nothing really new here for me at least. But, then in high school and even today before having read her book, I really had no context to understand what I had learned. This is where Emera’s evolutionary context comes into play. How does the female body of our species compare to other species? How has our biology and method of reproduction evolved from them or co-evolved to independent yet similar or divergent solutions? Emera compares our biology to many animals including the platypus, kangaroo, elephant mouse (cousin to the elephant), even horses.
I tend to really like nonfiction. And one of my favorite genres is the history of science. Emera’s book isn’t a history of science per se, but it is very much a history book–the evolution of mammalian reproduction. She describes–this for me was quite stunning–the relationship between mother and fetus, as a battle, an evolutionary battle! I’ve always thought of reproduction in cultural terms such as loving, nurturing, co-existing, etc.–never a fight for survival! But that’s how she describes it (and others too). Emera traces this battle back in time to when sometimes the mother had the upper hand, and others when the fetus had the upper hand like today with human reproduction.
One of the strengths of the book is that Emera introduces differing evolutionary theories no matter how pedestrian or conflicting they seem at the onset. She follows with what evolutionary scientists currently think or had thought of these theories, and sometimes what she thinks of them. This shows that there are still a lot of unknowns, speculations, and of course continued research.
Emera’s book was a real eye-opener. I walked away feeling that I now understand what I had learned so many years ago in high school biology. I feel this book would be perfect for anyone who loves nonfiction, science, and history.
February 6, 2024
This book masterfully blends biology, anthropology, and sociology to provide a comprehensive look at the complexities and wonders of the female body.
Starting from the earliest days of human evolution, the author navigates through millennia of biological and societal changes to explain not just how but why the female body has evolved in the ways that it has. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative that is both engaging and informative, the book challenges and enlightens readers about the myriad factors influencing female anatomy and physiology.
What sets this work apart is its dedication to weaving scientific insights with cultural and historical contexts, offering a holistic view of the female body beyond the biological determinism. Dr. Emera
addresses pivotal moments in history and their impact on women's health, rights, and roles in society, making it clear that the story of the female body is deeply intertwined with the story of humanity itself.
'A Brief History of the Female Body' is not just an academic text; it's a compelling story of resilience, adaptation, and beauty. It encourages readers to rethink preconceived notions about gender and health, highlighting the importance of understanding our past to navigate the present and future of women's bodily autonomy and empowerment.
For anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and gender studies, this book offers invaluable insights and a rich narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring. It's a must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the female body and its place in the natural and social world.
Starting from the earliest days of human evolution, the author navigates through millennia of biological and societal changes to explain not just how but why the female body has evolved in the ways that it has. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative that is both engaging and informative, the book challenges and enlightens readers about the myriad factors influencing female anatomy and physiology.
What sets this work apart is its dedication to weaving scientific insights with cultural and historical contexts, offering a holistic view of the female body beyond the biological determinism. Dr. Emera
addresses pivotal moments in history and their impact on women's health, rights, and roles in society, making it clear that the story of the female body is deeply intertwined with the story of humanity itself.
'A Brief History of the Female Body' is not just an academic text; it's a compelling story of resilience, adaptation, and beauty. It encourages readers to rethink preconceived notions about gender and health, highlighting the importance of understanding our past to navigate the present and future of women's bodily autonomy and empowerment.
For anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and gender studies, this book offers invaluable insights and a rich narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring. It's a must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the female body and its place in the natural and social world.
September 25, 2025
Started off strong, but lost me about 3/4 the way through. I think the mate choice chapter lost a lot of the momentum she had going because it was so far removed from anything to do with humans. She could have skipped that whole chapter. As another reviewer mentioned, there was a lot of repetition, especially in the menopause chapter. I found myself skimming just to finish.
An unfortunate side note is that when talking about skin color as a good example of natural selection in parentheses she says that dark skin color evolved to avoid skin cancer which is just not true. Skin cancer happens too late in life to have a real effect on reproductive output which is basic evolutionary biology…maybe she had an editor add that in for clarification and she didn’t notice it. Either way it’s a small knock or credibility.
I wish she would have done in text citations as well since there are so many it’s hard to know exactly what information she got from what articles.
All of the discussion of fetal versus maternal adaptations makes me think of the “my body my choice” argument…the fetus is very clearly NOT the mothers body which is the exact reason we see such an intense arms race between them. Hmmm just food for thought.
An unfortunate side note is that when talking about skin color as a good example of natural selection in parentheses she says that dark skin color evolved to avoid skin cancer which is just not true. Skin cancer happens too late in life to have a real effect on reproductive output which is basic evolutionary biology…maybe she had an editor add that in for clarification and she didn’t notice it. Either way it’s a small knock or credibility.
I wish she would have done in text citations as well since there are so many it’s hard to know exactly what information she got from what articles.
All of the discussion of fetal versus maternal adaptations makes me think of the “my body my choice” argument…the fetus is very clearly NOT the mothers body which is the exact reason we see such an intense arms race between them. Hmmm just food for thought.
May 19, 2024
Super fascinating look at why the female body and experience is the way that it is. Each chapter covers a different topic: breasts, periods, orgasms, pregnancy, menopause, and sex biases in disease protection and susceptibility. What sets this book apart is its focus not just on the biology of all these traits (“how do they work”) but more on the evolutionary reasons for them (“why are they like this”). Sometimes the answer is that we don’t know, but usually evolutionary biologists have made some progress and the answers are captivating. Dr. Emera explains things beautifully for the lay audience, but does not compromise on the facts or on throughly summarizing the state of our current understanding.
My favorite chapters were about the conflicts that take place between a pregnant mother and the fetus (and later the young child). They agree on a lot (a healthy pregnancy) but the fetus wants to take more resources than the mother wants to give. This leads to evolutionary battles at the levels of tissues (placental invasion of the uterus) all the way down to genes (imprinted genes in the fetus).
A great read for those interested in human biology and evolution!
My favorite chapters were about the conflicts that take place between a pregnant mother and the fetus (and later the young child). They agree on a lot (a healthy pregnancy) but the fetus wants to take more resources than the mother wants to give. This leads to evolutionary battles at the levels of tissues (placental invasion of the uterus) all the way down to genes (imprinted genes in the fetus).
A great read for those interested in human biology and evolution!
November 27, 2025
I thought this was a really interesting read. I liked the approach Emera took by comparing and contrasting us to other animals and their biology, as well as discussing other related human-based research, to describe the how and whys of the female body. I really appreciated learning the technical detail of our biology and other animals. I felt like I just had an education in evolutionary biology which was really neat.
I did feel some areas were left wanting, whether it felt like some ideas were under-explored or that some of the non-conclusions were disappointing. However, given this is a 'brief' history, I suppose it should be expected. Morever, it's not Emera's fault that some aspects of the female body is currently not well understood and understudied. I think in this regard, the book acts as useful milestone, a marker of where science is now, and highlights areas that could be studied.
Unlike some other readers, I wasn't put off by the lack of social or cultural contexts, and was happy with the mostly physical - evolutionary considerations. Having said that, I'll have to check out this Eve book to see what I'm missing out on.
I did feel some areas were left wanting, whether it felt like some ideas were under-explored or that some of the non-conclusions were disappointing. However, given this is a 'brief' history, I suppose it should be expected. Morever, it's not Emera's fault that some aspects of the female body is currently not well understood and understudied. I think in this regard, the book acts as useful milestone, a marker of where science is now, and highlights areas that could be studied.
Unlike some other readers, I wasn't put off by the lack of social or cultural contexts, and was happy with the mostly physical - evolutionary considerations. Having said that, I'll have to check out this Eve book to see what I'm missing out on.
September 1, 2023
كان التكاثر بالانقسام المتساوي، ولا يزال ، شكلاً رئيسيًا من أشكال التكاثر اللاجنسي. ولكن في بعض هذه المخلوقات التي تحتوي على أغشية والتي تتكاثر بشكل انقسامي ، في الماضي ، حدث شيء غيّر الحياة إلى الأبد: تطور التكاثر بالانقسام . قد لا يبدو الأمر حدثا مهماً ، لكن في الحقيقة كان تطور التكاثر بالانقسام حدثا كبيرًا. بدون التكاثر بالانقسام ، لم يكن التكاثر الجنسي ليتطور ، وبدون التكاثر الجنسي ، سيكون العالم مكانًا مختلفًا تمامًا.
يمكنك التفكير في التكاثر بالانقسام باعتباره انقسامًا مكررًا ومعدلًا. بدلاً من انقسام خلية واحدة ، هناك خليتان ، مما يؤدي إلى خفض المعلومات الجينية في هذه الخلايا إلى النصف. في أجسامنا ، التكاثر بالانقسام يصنع البويضات والحيوانات المنوية. أثناء الإخصاب ، تجتمع البويضة والحيوانات المنوية معًا ، لاستعادة الكمية الكاملة من المعلومات الوراثية التي يتم نقلها إلى النسل. إذا لم نقم بتخفيض المحتوى الجيني لخلايانا الجنسية إلى النصف ، فسيحتوي كل جيل على ضعف كمية الحمض النووي الموجودة في الجيل السابق. لست بحاجة إلى أن تكون عالم رياضيات لتستنتج أن مضاعفة الحمض النووي هذه ستخرج عن نطاق السيطرة بسرعة!
.
Emera Deena
A Brief History of the Female Body
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
يمكنك التفكير في التكاثر بالانقسام باعتباره انقسامًا مكررًا ومعدلًا. بدلاً من انقسام خلية واحدة ، هناك خليتان ، مما يؤدي إلى خفض المعلومات الجينية في هذه الخلايا إلى النصف. في أجسامنا ، التكاثر بالانقسام يصنع البويضات والحيوانات المنوية. أثناء الإخصاب ، تجتمع البويضة والحيوانات المنوية معًا ، لاستعادة الكمية الكاملة من المعلومات الوراثية التي يتم نقلها إلى النسل. إذا لم نقم بتخفيض المحتوى الجيني لخلايانا الجنسية إلى النصف ، فسيحتوي كل جيل على ضعف كمية الحمض النووي الموجودة في الجيل السابق. لست بحاجة إلى أن تكون عالم رياضيات لتستنتج أن مضاعفة الحمض النووي هذه ستخرج عن نطاق السيطرة بسرعة!
.
Emera Deena
A Brief History of the Female Body
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
April 4, 2024
This book is an enlightening journey through the evolution of female reproduction and its profound impact on human biology. It shatters the misconception of human uniqueness and highlights our shared biological traits with other organisms. The analogy of shared traits among cousins beautifully illustrates our connection to all living creatures.
The author brilliantly explores the mysteries of the female body by delving into the experiences of our female relatives in the animal kingdom. It's fascinating to unravel the reasons behind phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause by examining their existence in our animal sisters.
One of the most engaging aspects of this book is how it portrays the gray areas of evolution. It navigates through the complexities of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy, shedding light on the intricate relationship between mothers and offspring. The insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped our bodies, like the development of large breasts in females, are captivating.
The author brilliantly explores the mysteries of the female body by delving into the experiences of our female relatives in the animal kingdom. It's fascinating to unravel the reasons behind phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause by examining their existence in our animal sisters.
One of the most engaging aspects of this book is how it portrays the gray areas of evolution. It navigates through the complexities of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy, shedding light on the intricate relationship between mothers and offspring. The insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped our bodies, like the development of large breasts in females, are captivating.
July 1, 2024
This is a great book that goes into the details about how the human female body does what males bodies don't. The author pulls from an extensive background to explain how there's been an arms race between children and mothers; the children wanting more resources and the mothers trying to save resources for themselves. The author presents evidence from the molecular (how the placenta tries to invade the mother, and how the mother's immunological system fights back) all the way to the behavioral. She presents several theories representing the current state of thinking in evolutionary biology and I feel she does a good job of explaining the pros on cons of each theory.
I learned a lot from this book and it has expanded my understanding of immunology, molecular biology and human evolution.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: No
I learned a lot from this book and it has expanded my understanding of immunology, molecular biology and human evolution.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: No
August 22, 2024
Lots of new and interesting information about the female biology. I picked up this book to educate myself more on periods, pregnancies, menstruations, etc, which I certainly get, but viewing this topic through an evolutionary biology perspective and learning about other animals make this topic infinitely more interesting.
Most of all I appreciate the author clearly outlining which statements in the book are hypotheses that require further explorations, were these hypotheses widely accepted, what were the critiques, her associations with the researchers behind studies she outlined in the book, and which hypotheses she gravitates to but recognize the need for further support. It helps so much for the readers to know these additional caveats.
The author mentions she taught high school biology and it shows: her ability to explain complex topics make the book very enjoyable. I'll certainly be looking out for more books on evolutionary biology and female health after this enjoyable read.
Most of all I appreciate the author clearly outlining which statements in the book are hypotheses that require further explorations, were these hypotheses widely accepted, what were the critiques, her associations with the researchers behind studies she outlined in the book, and which hypotheses she gravitates to but recognize the need for further support. It helps so much for the readers to know these additional caveats.
The author mentions she taught high school biology and it shows: her ability to explain complex topics make the book very enjoyable. I'll certainly be looking out for more books on evolutionary biology and female health after this enjoyable read.
March 2, 2023
This is a mediocre book by a mediocre author that covers all aspects of the history of the female human body. Regretfully, Dr. Emra fills this book about science with far too many personal vignettes about her four children, which adds little or nothing to the topics of ovulation, menopause, etc. The author also includes many theories that today have no research confirmation, which to her credit, she openly admits. Finally, Dr. Emera includes several assertions that are simply false. For example, perhaps due to political correctness and fear for her job, she claims that the human races are a social construct with no biological basis, but this ignores countless contrary scientific findings that have conclusively demonstrated the opposite to be the case.
January 29, 2024
Ahhh this was my first annual Christmas Eve book swap book from Jonathan :) and I. Am. Mad.
We. The women. Are truly ticked off that science is SO lacking in it’s exploration of us. I’ve been aggressively sharing the facts I’ve learned from this book with everyone for the past month and I am delighted and angry. I understand myself more? But I could understand myself even BETTER if women’s bodies were better studied. I’m glad that that’s finally changing, and I hope that the advent of future books on this subject will further fill in the gaps that this author admitted to not being able to fill due to a lack of research.
Anyway, my thanks to this author for bringing together what research is out there, and pressing the field forward.
We. The women. Are truly ticked off that science is SO lacking in it’s exploration of us. I’ve been aggressively sharing the facts I’ve learned from this book with everyone for the past month and I am delighted and angry. I understand myself more? But I could understand myself even BETTER if women’s bodies were better studied. I’m glad that that’s finally changing, and I hope that the advent of future books on this subject will further fill in the gaps that this author admitted to not being able to fill due to a lack of research.
Anyway, my thanks to this author for bringing together what research is out there, and pressing the field forward.
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